Automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is hereby provided which will automatically sense the defective oversized or chipped threads on the top of glass container or bottle and eject the so impaired bottle from a line of such container or bottles being conveyed to the apparatus by a belt conveyor and let the unimpaired bottles pass from the apparatus ready for immediate use, filling and the safe application of closure caps. The line conveyor runs along one side of the apparatus and locates the bottles into star-wheel openings of the apparatus and through the engagement of these bottles with the turret of the apparatus; the turret is dragged and turned by the continuation of movement of the bottles upon the belt until the next bottle has been gathered by a succeeding star opening in the star-wheel turrent. This next bottle picks up the drive from the conveyor to allow the preceding bottle to be initially centered by a similarly internally threaded two-part clamp device and the turning of the bottle therein by a side friction engaging wall to orientate bottle so that the lead edge of the bottle thread enters the jaws first. Fractures are broken away from a fractured bottle thread preparatory to the thread inspection cycle. After the neck of the bottle is clamped, it is taken to the next station to receive a lift inflatable plunger bulb that is turned and lowered into the bottle neck, the bulb inflated, the bottle neck internally gripped, the clamp opened, the bottle lifted from the conveyor by the bulb rotated for the inspection of the thread by opposing sensing fingers of a microswitch sensing device and biased by a spring to close upon one another. The bottle is lifted and at the same time turned by the device between its opposing sensing fingers by a reversible air motor that drives a worm gear in an internally-threaded depending sleeve, both with threads of the same pitch and size of the bottle threads being inspected. Operating with the sensing fingers are adjustable operating members aligned with microswitches that will be activated upon the thread being oversize or undersize or upon a sensing finger dropping into a notch or a nick to signal and set up the apparatus for the release and ejection of that bottle at a selected station. The unimpaired bottle will be continued to another station where it can be ejected by any suitable means. An adjustable electric timer controls the lowering and lifting of the bottle inflatable lifting bulb and the extent of travel of bottle threads within the sensing fingers and the ejecting of the impaired bottle from the apparatus.

United States Patent [191 1 Jan. 1, 1974 Scribner AUTOMATIC BOTTLETHREAD INSPECTION APPARATUS Inventor: Harry E. Scribner, 9036 N. 75thSt.,

Milwaukee, Wis. 53223 yrneaif Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No; 353,709

[52] C1,. 209/74, 209/80, 73/105 [51] Int. Cl. B07c 5/00 [58] Field ofSearch 209/74, 75, 80, 82, 209/72; 73/104, 105; 33/199 B, 147 M [561References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,101,147 8/1963 Fryet a1. 73/104X 3,395,573 8/1968 Baker et al. 73/104 2,606,657 8/1952 Berthelsen209/75 3,110,400 11/1963 Early 209/75 X 11/1971 Sklar 209/80 PrimaryExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr.

1 Assistant ExaminerGene A. Church Attorney-Laforest S. Saulsbury et al.

[57] 1 ABSTRACT 1 veyor and let the unimpaired bottles pass/from theapparatus ready for immediate use, filling and the safe application ofclosure caps. The line conveyor runs along one side of the apparatus andlocates the bottles into star-wheel openings of the apparatus andthrough the engagement of these bottles with the turret of theapparatus, theturret is dragged and turned by the continuation ofmovement of the bottles upon the belt until the next bottle has beengathered by a succeeding star opening in the star-wheel turrent. Thisnext bottle picks up the drive fromtheconveyor to allow the precedingbottle to be initially centered by a similarly internally threadedtwo-part clamp device and the turning of the bottle therein by a sidefriction engaging wall to orientate bottle so that the lead edge of lthe bottle thread enters the jaws first. Fractures are broken away fromafractured bottle thread preparatory to the thread inspectioncyclehAfter the neck of i gers of a microswitch sensing device andbiased by a spring to close upon one another. The bottle is lifted andat the same time turned by the device between its opposing sensingfingers by a reversible air motor that drives a worm gear in aninternally-threaded depending sleeve, both with threads of the samepitch and size of the bottle threads being inspectedooperating with thesensing fingers are adjustable operating members aligned withmicroswitches that will be activated upon the thread being oversize orundersize or upon a sensing finger dropping into a notch or a nick tosignal and set up the apparatus for the release and ejection of thatbottle at a selected station. The unimpaired bottle will be continued toanother station where, it can be ejected byany suitable means. Anadjustable electric timer controls the lowering and lifting of thebottle inflatable lifting bulb and the extent of travel of bottlethreads within the sensing fingers and the ejecting of the impairedbottle from the apparatus.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED LIAN 1 I974 sum a nr 5 NTEW H 13.782542 3 swarms I V x I N 28" .tle.

. AUTOMATIC BOTTLE THREAD INSPECTION n APPARATUS This invention relatesto an automatic apparatus for inspecting threaded neck bottles foroversize and r chipped and/orl undersized threads preparatory to beingfilled with its contents and capped.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a bottlethreadinspection apparatus which can automatica lly in continuousoperation, inspect the condition of the threads onthe neck of a glassbottle and automatically eject from the apparatus the oversize orchipped and/or undersized threaded bottle from a line of bottles fed tothe apparatus by a conveyor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bottle threadinspection apparatus which consists of a free wheeling star-wheel typeturretthat is powered by the continuous conveyor upon the bottleentering the turret while on the conveyor and the dragging of the turretuntil the next bottle enters the turret to continue the rotation,thepreceding bottle then being lifted from the conveyor and inspected bythread sensing heads and tlethread inspection apparatus withmeans forbringing together separable internally-threaded clamp parts about thethreaded neck of the bottle to orientate bottlethreads for inspection.so that the lead edgeof the bottle thread enters jaws first and at thesame time cause the bottle to berotated intothe closed clamp parts torid t hebottle threads of any chips or breaks in the threads preparatoryto theinspection of the same by thesensing finger heads, the threads ofthe clamp parts conforming in pitch and size to threads of the bot- Itisa still further object of the invention to provide a bottle threadinspection apparatus with simple means for capturing the bottle by itsneck from its clamped centered position upon the conveyor comprising acentral lowering and lifting member with aninflatable air bulb whichwhen lowered into the bottle ,neckand inflated to grasp thebottle androtating at the same time with the clamp parts having been opened,lifting the bottle from the conveyor will be effected sothat bottlethreads will be turned. up into and between the thread sensing heads forthe inspection of these threads for size and chipped away portions ofthe threads, the lifting and lowering of the air bulb and bottle beingeffected by a reversible air motor with a won'n gearand depending sleeveboth having threads corresponding in pitch and size to the threads ofthebottle to givethe bottle threads their proper inspection. I

Itisstill a further object of the invention to provide in a bottlethreadinspection apparatus an adjustable timer control circuit forcontrolling the time length of the inspection cycle and maintainingcircuit in condition for the ejection of the bottle with the impairedthread as the bottle reaches ejection station.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bottle. threadinspection apparatus, having the above objects in mind, which is ofsimple construction, has minimum number of parts, consumes littleoverall space, efficient and effective in use.

THE FIGURES For a better understandingof the invention, refer ence maybe had to the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in

which:

such bottle causes the apparatus tobe turned from station to station,with the laterally extending clamp on therotary apparatus havinggripped: the neck of the bottle so that the bottle is dragged alongbythe conveyor to turn the bottleinto its clamp, there being but two ofthe clamps shown, one open and the other closed; I

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally alongline 22 of FIG. l and shown center starwheel rotary structure andlooking in the direction of with the air motor bottle lifting devicehaving its bottle rubber gripping bulb extended into the open threadedend of the bottle and the bulb having been inflated and bottle threadsexamined by the opposing sensing fingers, with;the bottle having beenrotated by the air motor during bottle rotation thread .inspectionthereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentaryverticalsectional view similar to FIG. 2 with theair motor bottle lifting device low eredinto the bottle while upon thedelivery conveyor and prior to its bottle rubber gripping bulb beinginflated andthe bottle lifted thereby to sense its threads for width andchipped away notches or gaps;

, FIG. 4 isa fragmentary transverse sectional view looking down uponline 4-4 of FIG. 2 and upon the lower air distributing tubesforsupplying airunder pressure to air-operated bottle neck clamping unitsand the bottle rubber inflatable bulb of the air motor bottle liftingdevice;

, FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational-view of the threaded'neck ofa bottleand ofthe threadinspection device removed from the apparatus andwith its sensing fingers engaging the bottle neck threads; r

' FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the bottle thread inspectiondevice of FIG. 5 without its engagement with the bottle neck;

FIG. 7 is atop plan view of the bottle neck thread inspection devicewith its opposing sensing fingers biasingly engaging with the bottlethreads at the. side,

thereof and one of the microswitches being activated; FIG. 8 is a topplan view of the bottle thread inspection device, similar to FIG. 7 butwith. one sensing finger enteringa chipped away gap so that both microtimer relay to the length of the threads, and the bottle ejection relaycircuit and low voltage circuit containing a. three-wire arrangementbearing the thread sensing finger microswitches, relays for controllingthe circuitry of the high voltage and a cam operated starting switch; I

FIG. is a line diagram of the three-wire low voltage arrangement bearingthe cam operated and microswitches of the thread sensing devices for theeight stations of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now particularly to the FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown generally a bottle thread inspecting apparatus that issupported upon a stationary table base or platform 26, having a flat topsurface over which the bottoms of bottles can slide as directed by theapparatus 25, and which is generally round in shape and along one sideof which there extends a travelling bottle feeding conveyor 27 having afriction-surface in order to engage the bottom of bottles 28 to conveythem from a collecting point from one side of the table 26 and that runsgenerally tangentially thereto to a free turning upstanding bottlereceiving structure indicated generally at 31 mounted upon an upstandingpivot post 32 for free turning movement upon lower and upper ballbearing assemblies 33 and 34 carried upon the post 32 the lower bearingassembly 33 being held against downward displacement on a shoulder 38 onthe vertically extending post 32 to rotatably support the bottlereceiving turret structure thereon.

The post 32 is held rigidly in a bottom flanged vertical support bracket39 made fixed to the stationary table or platform 26 by fastening bolts41. The post 32 is firmly held against upward displacement from thebracket '39 by a set screw 42 engaging with a downwardly and outwardlyinclined recess 43 in the lower end of the post 32 as best'seen in FIG.2. The post 32 has a shoulder 44 that engages the upper end face of thebracket 39 and is sufficiently spaced from the lower end of the post 32to not only hold the post 32 against downward displacement in thebracket 39 but to provide adequate length to accommodate the inclinedrecess 43 for the set screw 42 to lock it in place against upwarddisplacement and rotation whereby to provide a good rigid support forthe free-rotating bottle receiving turret structure 31.

The upper ball bearing assembly 34 is held against downward displacementin theupper end of a turret sleeve 45 by its internal shoulder 46 andagainst upward displacement from the upper end of the post 32 and lockedin place in the turret sleeve by a nut 47 threaded to a threaded portion48 of the post 32 extending above the ball-bearing assembly 34. Thelower end of the turret sleeve 45 has an internal shoulder 50 whichrests over lower bearing 33 to support the turret 31 thereupon.

The bottle receiving turret 31 has two vertically spaced star-wheelshaped plates 49 and 51 respectively having bottle-capturing slots 49and 51 that receive the wide diameter portion of the bottle 28 as bestillustrated in FIG. 2, so that the bottle when in the slots as it isdragged along by the conveyor 27, free wheels the turret 31 about thevertical support post 32. In the apparatus being shown, eight suchopenings 49 and 51' are provided in their respective plate and theircircumferential spacings are such that with the constantly movingconveyor 27 continuous rotation of the turret 31 is effected through theengagement of moving bottles 28 with openings in the plates. The bottles28 are lifted free of the conveyor at the testing station as will beapparent as the description follows and then deposited on the table basesurface 26 to be slid thereover by the star'wheel plates. The bottomstar wheel 49 is held vertically fixed to the sleeve by the connectionof bolts 52 extending upwardly from under the plate 49 and into anannular retaining ring 53 that in turn is held in place on the outerperiphery of the sleeve 45 by a set screw 54. The openings 49 and 51' ofthe star wheel plates 49 and 51 are sized to the large diameters of thebottles 28 and with the plates connected to the turret sleeve 45 in theremovable manner just described with regards to this lower plate 49, theapparatus can thus be adapted to different diameter size bottles 28.

The raised star wheel 51 has its opening 51 receives the bottle 28 at ahigher elevation and .the plate 51 is adjustably connected in order toadapt the turret to different size, shape and height of bottles 28retaining ring 56 is vertically-adjustably retained upon the turretsleeve 45 at any desired elevation by a set screw 57. The star wheelplate 51 is fixed to the under side of the retaining ring 56 byfastening bolts 58.

Similarly, there is adjustably mounted upon the turret sleeve 45 spacedabove the plate 51, an ordinary circular-shaped plate 59, without starwheel indentations, at a height in lateral alignment with an enlargedneck head 28' of the bottle 28 upwardly from which there extends athreaded upper end portion 28" whose threads have to be inspected fornotches or gaps on the thread resulting from the thread being chippedaway that would airtight sealing engagement of the bottle cap whenapplied to bottle to maintain the contents within the bottle free airand from contamination. As will become apparent the chipped threadedbottle or a bottle with oversize or undersize thread will beautomatically ejected from the apparatus. The upper end face of thebottleneck enlargement 28 will provide a shoulder 28'a that may bear agasket and against which the under-edge of the cap when tightened downupon the bottle neck shoulder 28'a will provide for an airtight sealingengagement therewith.

The circular plate 59 is adjustably supported upon the turret sleevefrom an under retaining ring 61 to which the plate 59 is attached bydownwardly extend ing fastening bolts 62, the retaining ring 61 beingheld in its vertically adjusted position upon the sleeve 45 by a setscrew 63.

Mounted on the top face of plate 59 and extending radially outwardlyfrom the turret sleeve 45 at each of the eight locations angularlythereabout spaced from one another, is an operated clamp tong assemblyindicated generally at 64 comprising opposing split nut jaws 66 and 67,FIGS. 1 and 2, pivotably connected to one-another and to the outerperiphery of the top surface of the plate 59 by a pivot post 68. Theopposing faces of the jaws have threads corresponding in pitch and shapeto the threads of the thread 28" of the bottle to be inspected.

When the jaws are closed upon one another and about threaded portion 28"of the bottle 28 they will fit flush thereover of the bottle threadportion 28". The respective jaws 66 and 67 respectively have inwardlyextending crank arms 66a and 67a that are respectively connected bytoggle links 71 and 72 and pivot pins 73 and 74 by the pi votpin 76 to ashackle or bifurcated head 77' of a piston 77 extending from a smallsize air SLThese air cylinders 78 receive airpressure from a manifoldassembly 82 comprising parts to be later described and through apipeline. indicated by dobdash line 83 in FIG. 2 which receives air atthe appropriate time from a side opening 84 in the manifold assembly 82,there being eight such openings for the manifold 82 circumferentiallyspaced from one another therearound, one for each bottle clamping device64 to move the piston 77ofthe cylinder 78 against the action of aninternal return spring to act upon the clamp tong assembly 64 that wouldcause the internally threaded split nutlike clamp jaws66 and 67 to closeabout the a threaded neck extension 28" of the bottle 28.

face thereof and providing the drive for the bottle bulb plunger liftingassemblies 89 depending therefrom in axialalignment with the air motors102 to be actuated by the same.

A vertically-extending air dis tributi r ig sleeve 103 extends upwardlythrough the bottom and upper manifold parts 93 and97 of the manifoldassembly 82 to interconnect the same that has a central! bore 104 Thepivot manifold assembly 82 to the one-way air cylinder 78 so that theclamp jaws 66 and 67 will be closed upon and grasp the threaded neckportion 28" as best shown at the next station of FIG. 1. The turrethaving beentaken by the bottle 28and conveyor 47 through approximat ley45". As the bottle is being moved and the clamp jaws closed the bottlewill have been rotated by rubbing engagement of the surface of thebottle with a curved side rail 87 and until the thread. of the bottleportion 28" matches with the internal nut-like thread recesses of thejaws 66 and 67 so that the thread of the bottle will have been properlyorientated when reaching the nextstation 2" and this turning of thebottle threads 28" into the internal thread receiving recesses of theopposing jawswill rid the bottle threads of any fractures that may be inthe bottle threads so that notches,

gaps or nicks made in the threads by clamping or previous usagewill besensed by the sensing fingers of the bottle thread inspection device inamanner to be later described. a

This curved side rail 87 that effects the turning of the bottle removingany partial chips from the bottle threads 28" has a vertically-extendedinternal friction driving surface and can be fixed by any rigid outerextension or bracket 87 thereon as seen in FIG. 2 to the stationarytable base 26.

Connected to the upper end of theturret sleeve45 in common with themanifold 82 is a top supporting plate 88 for supporting bottlebulbplunger lifting assemblies indicated generally at 89, that will bedescribed later in detail and made secure to the turret structure 31with assemblies 89 to rotate thereby by fastening screws 91 enteringthrough flange 92 of a lower part 93 of the manifold assembly 82 thatbears the port 84 already above-mentioned, and through post 32 that isanchored to the bottom platform 26 has at its upper end areduceddiameterextension 106 that is threaded into an increased diameter threaded boreportion of the bore 104sb that the upper g irnember 103 is screweddownwardly onto the upper end "of the i post 32 above the nut 47 upon anO-ring 107 lying against a shoulder on post 32, the bore 104 is sealedat its lower end against escape of air: under pressure. The centralmember 103 about which the lower. rri'anifold part 93 rotates has alateral opening 108 leading from the bore 104 to distribute air insequenceto a series of openings 84, each of line 83 leadingto a clampdevice 64. Thus, the clamp devices 64 grasp the bottles in succession asthe bottles 28 proceed allongthe conveyo r27 in snug close relationshipto one-another and within the peripheral openings 49' and 51 of the starwheel plates 49 and 51.

Also extending laterally from the bore 104 at a location below thedistributing opening 108, is a distributing opening 109 that in sequencewill become aligned l with a series of portholes 111 extending laterallyfrom the same elevation as the opening 109 in the central member 103.There will be eight of these openings 111 equally spaced from oneanother about the circumference of the bottom manifold part 93 andslightly angled respectively from'the respective openings 84 asindicated across the center line 2--2 of FIG. 1 through which thesection of FIG. 2 has been taken. In proper timed relation, theairpressure from the bore 104 of the central member 82 will be dispensedby'its opening 109 through the lateral opening 1 11 and through a hoseindicated by a dot-dash line 112 to a port opening 113 as seen in FIG. 2of bottle thread inspection device 89. The central core member 103 has areduced diameter upper portion 103" thatprovzides a shoulder 114 abovewhich is fixed a thick-walled sleeve 116 s urrounding the reduceddiameter portion 103' of the central member 103 and fixed against a setscrew 1 17. The sleeve 116 is accordingly held stationary through itsside thereof and the plate 101 is connected to thcupper end of thevertical spacing rods 1 18 in a similar manner by fastening screws 121.i

The thiclr sleeve 116 has two vertically extending side holes 122 and123 with respective internally threaded entrances 124 and 126 withwhich-there is respectively connected respective pipelines 127 and 120,

shown in dot and dashlines in FIG. 2 and connectedto an air-distributingchamber 129 that receives compressed air under pressure from an airpressure generating source and a pipeline 131. The upper end of the bore104 is threaded at 132 to which a pipeline is connected as indicated bya dot and dash line 133 that is also connected to the same airdistributing chamber 129 to receive air therefrom.

Associated with the hole 122 is a laterally extending opening that willregister with any one of a series of eight openings circumferentiallyspaced about the upper manifold part 97 as indicated at 135 to deliverair under pressure through a pipeline 136, shown as a dot-dash line, tothe rotary air motor 102, which is a reversible motor and to one sidethereof as at 137 to cause the rotation of the motor 102 to rotate in adirection to turn a threaded worm gear 138 having threads on theexterior thereof of the pitch and size of the threads 28" of a bottle 28and working against threads 139 on the interior of a depending sleeve141 that depends from the underface of the rotatingturret top plate 101.The worm gear 138 is threadedly connected upon a central threaded shaft144 that extends upwardly onto shaft 142 of the rotary air motor 102uponwhich vanes not shown, are provided to effect the rotation of theshafts142 and 144 and of the worm gear 138. The forward rotation of theworm gear 138 will cause internally threaded sleeve portion 152 andcentral slide valve 152 to move downward. The worm gear 138 can beadjusted upon the threaded shaft 144 and is held in its adjustedposition by upper and lower lock nuts 143 and 145. g I

To affect a reverse rotation of the worm gear 138, the rotary air motor102 will be rotated in a reverse direction from the connection of anairline 146 indicated by a dot and dash line and connected to the airmotor 102 at 147 and to any one of a series of outlet openings 149 inthe upper manifold part 97 that will register with a lateral openinglSlin the thick sleeve 116 to receive air under pressure from the verticalopening 123 thereof supplied by the air from the upper air line 128 andair distributing chamber 129. There are eight such openings 149, one foreach of the air motors 102, and each of these openings 149 pass airjasthe turret is re tated and register with the lateral opening 151 inthick sleeve 116. Thisreversible air motor 102 is allowed to bleedfrom'one side or the'other depending upon the direction of rotation ofits motor. As the rotation of the air motor 102 is turned by air frompipeline 146 the worm gear 138 will reverse and return slide valve 152from its downwardly extended position into the position shown in FIG. 2from the position shown in FIG.

The lower end of the threaded shaft 144 attached to the air motor shaft142 below the worm gear 138 and internally threadedly sleeve portion152' carries a depending central bottle thread inspection member orslide valve 152 having an enlarged diameter upper end into which thethreaded gear 138 extends and rotates. Thus, the threaded shaft 144attached to the threaded screw 142 and the air motor 102 makes itpossible to adapt the inspection member to bottles of different height.

This central member 152 is carried for vertical adjustment in a guidesleeve or shell 154 carried on the outer periphery of the upper turretplate 88 and fixed against rotation thereon. The central member 152accordingly is moved up and down by the reversible air motor device 102.The central inspection member or slide valve 152 in order to preventleakage of air under pressure has upper and lower 0" rings 156 and 157to prevent air leakage from the guide sleeve 154.

After the bottle 28 has been gripped by the jaws 66 and 67 at a station1 in a circle, FIG. 1, and the bottle has been carried to the station 2ma circle and turned all the while by rubbing against the side rail 87to orientate the threads for inspection, the central member 152 islowered by the air motor 102 to extend its deflated rubber bulb 158 intothe threaded upper neck end of the bottle 28', to assume the positionshown in FIG. 3, and since the bulb158 is deflated, it will move looselydown thereinto. As soon as the movement has been sufiicient a laterallyextending opening 159 will become aligned with the air inlet port 113 ofguide sleeve 54, FIG. 2, receiving air under pressure from pipeline 1 12of manifold part 93, so as to instantly inflate the bulb 158 and gripthe bottle by its neck 28'. This lateral opening in the central member152 communicates with a central bore opening 161 that communicates witha threaded flange metal nipple 162 threaded into an enlarged lower endof the bore 161 and to which on the under face of its flange thereof,the

inflatable rubber bottle grip member of bulb 158 is adhered so that itsopening is in communication with the nipple opening 162' to receive airtherefrom and inflate the bulb 158 as shown in FIG. 2.

As soon as the central inspection member or slide valve 152 has movedsufficiently down into the bottle so that its lateral opening 159registers with the opening 1 13in the guide sleeve 154 the rubber gripis immediately inflated and the reversible air motor 102 receives airthrough the airline 146 and by the reverse of rotation of the air motor102 the threaded gear 138 will begin to reverse and move slide valve 152upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 and lifting and taking with itthe bottle 28 by its neck 28 from the conveyor 47 the until theinspecting cycle upon the threads 28" on the bottle have been completedby opposing finger assemblies 163 and 164 of a thread-inspecting device166, for each of the eight assemblies of the apparatus and fixed to theunderface of top plate 84 of turret 3l'by centering pins 167 andfastening bolts 168. These finger assemblies 163 and 164 will have runalong the entire length of the thread 28" being tested on the top of thebottle. The bottle 28 has about one and one-half turns of thread, butsome bottles may have more or less of such turns. Details of the fingerassemblies and the thread device is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, and itsoperation will be later described. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottle 28will have been lifted from its position on the conveyor 27 as shown inone set of dotted lines in FIG. 2 to its elevated position showinganother set of dotted .lines in FIG. 2, and this thread inspecting ofthe bottle is being effected while the bottle is being taken by theturret of FIG. 1 to station number 3 in a circle of FIG. 1 and clear ofthe conveyor 27. As the bottle thread is being inspected and lifted andthen lowered or dropped the bottle will have been taken from theconveyor and transferred to the base surface; Rotation of turret is thuscontinued while the inspecting of the threads is being carried out.

While as above explained rotation of bottle 28 is effected by frictionalengagement of the side of the same with the curved friction guide member87 in such a manner as to free the bottle thread of any chips andpeoperly lock the threads 28" within the threads of the split nut'likeclamping jaws 66 and 67 so that the threads of the bottle will have beenaligned for engagement by the finger assemblies 163 and 164 of theinspecting device 166 and any pieces or chips will have been removedthat may have been broken away or partially broken away from theexternal threads 28" on the bottle 28. Thus the jaws not only affect thecarrying of the bottle from station one to station two with the aid ofthe conveyor 27 but also serves to clean the threads 28" on the bottleorientating them at this time preparatory to the bottle28 being liftedin the manner as above described with the rotation being continued bythe air motor 102 acting upon the central member 152 with picked fromthe apparatus by a device to be described but with the bottles thatpassed inspection be carried to another station before being taken fromthe apparatus in a suitable manner. The bottle will have been releasedat the end of the lifting cycle of the bottle from the inflatable gripmember 158 upon being deflated by a central bore 161 and its lateralopening 159 being elevated to an opening 165 in the guide sleeve member154 elevated from the opening 113..This opening 165 has a check valve165 therein to prevent too sudden dropping of the bottle from the rubberbulb 158.

. Generally, it should be remembered that the central slide valve member152 moves down as it is rotated at the same pitchand size of the threadon the bottle to be inspected since the external thread upon the wormgear 138and the internal thread 139 internally in the slide valve sleeveportion 152' are identical. The rubber bulb assembly 158connected by itsthreaded stem 162 to body 152, enters the bottle top and the downwardmovement continues until the underface of the nipple metal flange 162engages the threaded end of the bottle the bottle rests firm against theunderface of the flanged nipple flange 162 threaded into the lower endof the central member slide valve 152 to provide at this point the hole113 in the guide sleeve 154 matches with the hole 159 in the centralmember 152 to inflate the rubber bulb to provide a seal in the top ofthe bottle and a means for raising the bottle for the time while its capreceiving threads are being inspected bythe opposing1 inspection fingerassemblies 163 and 164 of the thread inspection device 166.

During the ascent of the bottle 28 by the bottle lifting assembly 89,the threads 28". thereof rotate between the finger assemblies 163 and164 of the thread inspection device 166 carried on the turret plate 188.The

openings 108 and 109 in the central core member 103 of the manifoldassembly 82 can be elongated particularly so in the case of the clampjaw assembly 64 air pressure will be maintained while the bottle isbeing moved from station one to the next up to the point of release ofthe jaws66 and 67. This may be true particularly of the openings 134 and151 in the thick sleeve part 116 fixed to the central member 103 inorder to provide adequate time for the lowering and raising of thecentral member or slide valve 152 to pick-up and release the bottle 28.A check valve 171 is preferably that would tend to freethe bottle.Thischeck valve 171 I is in the air line 112 adjacent to the opening 113in the sleeve 154. The opening 113 is thus in effect closed once the airhas been imparted into the rubber bulb 158 after having been loweredinto the bottle, to prevent its deflation. Immediately the air comes onat 113 and the inflation of the grip 158 is effected and the bot tle ispicked up and riased so that its threads 28" are brought into engagementwith the fingers 163. and .164 of the thread inspecting device 166. Theopening 108 is made sufficiently long to effectthe tight closing of thejaws 66 and 67 about the bottle neck 28' and will continue closed tokeepcylinder 78 which brings the jaws 66 and 67 about bottle 28, as thebottle is rotated by the wall 87 so that the internal threads 66'. and67 respectively will have cleaned the threads 28" on the top of thebottle preparatory and orientated the threads prior to their inspectionand ridded the same'of any chips of glass. The jaws 66 and 67 by theaction of the spring in the cylinder 78 are quickly opened once the jrubber grip 158 hasentered the neck 28' of the bottle just after theinflation of the grip 158 takes place to take over the control of thebottle andjust prior to the lifting of the bottle by the rubber grip 158to effect the inspection of the threads 28 on the bottle that shouldhave been cleaned and orientated by the internally clamped jaws 66 and67. The elongation of the opening tending through the airmotor plate172and plate 101 and the sleeve flange 173 from which the internally 164are respectively primarily'formed of right angleshaped pieces that arerespectively pivotably connected by the upright portions to the front ofa mounting block 177 by respective pivot screws 178 and 179 so that asviewed in FIGS. 5 and 8 their respective sensing heads 181 and 182 maybe spread to accommodate the bottle thread 28" and to ride over the sametosense notches, chips or other irregularities. The respective sensingheads 181 and 182 respectively have central vertically extending smallthin sensing ribs 181' and 182' that will enter a notch, nick or gapfrom which a chip of glass has been released from the bottle thread asindicated at 183 in FIGS. 7 and 9 perrnittingthe ribs 181' or 182' ofthe respective sensing heads 181 or 182 to enter thenotch so as to causethe sensing head 181 or 182 to be pivoted closer together under theaction of a transversely extending compression spring 184 carried on arod 186 that lies above the pivot pins 178 and 179 as seen in FIG. andextends between the upright portion of angle shaped finger portions.

The rod 186 that contains the compression spring 184 is threaded onopposite ends and they have adjustable securing nuts 187 and 188 on theopposite ends of the same to effect a proper adjustment of the fingersso that their forwardly extending opposing heads 181 and 182 may beadjusted to the proper distance for their respective ribs 182' and 181'to readily receive the outer edge of the bottle thread 28" as the bottle28 is rotated inflated bulbs 158 and the rotating lifting assembly 89.The fingers 163 and 164 will overlie the top of the bottle and thebottleis rotatably lifted upwardly for the engagement of the threads on theopposite of narrow vertically extending thread engaging ribs 181' and182 of the respective fingers 163 and 164 as the bottle is being broughtupwardly by the rubber grip 158 and the central member 152 of thelifting assembly 89. The bottle and its threads are being rotated all ofthe time that hottle is being lifted and the threads on the bottle havethe same pitch and sizes of the threads 139 on the interior of the slidevalve sleeve portion 152' and on the exterior of the worm gear 138. Inorder to ease the engagement of the threads of the bottle with thesensing head, the thin and sharpened ribs 181' and 182 on the respectiveopposing sensing heads 181 and 182 are flared downwardly and outwardly,as can be best seen in FIG. 5. When the rotation of the bottle has beeneffected to permit the rib of one sensing head to enter a notch orbreakaway 183, the compression spring 184 will bring the sensing heads181, 182 close together as best seen in FIG. 8 causing contacts on theupright portions of finger assemblies to close and open microswitchesand their circuits that will turn on a light indicator and cause anejecting mechanism to come into play to eject a damaged imperfect bottleall in a manner which will be described more in detail in connectionwith the electric circuit diagrams of FIGS. 9 and 10. The pivot bolts178 and 179 are respectively attached to the mounting block 177. Sideplates 189 and 191 are respectively connected to the sides of themounting block 177 by respective fastening bolts 192 and 193 and willprevent the sensing fingers 163 and 164 from moving out of properalignment with switches 199 and 203.

The upstanding portion of the finger assembly 163 has atriangular-shaped plate 194 connected by fastening bolts 196 to theouter face of the upstanding portion of the finger 163. The upstandingportion of the finger 164 has a similar opposing triangular plate 197connected to the inner face of the fingers 164 by fastening bolts 198.Carried on the inner face of the triangular plate 194 of the sensingfinger 163 is a microswitch 199 made secure thereto by fastening bolts201 and having a small switch plunger 199 adapted to be engaged by aheaded adjustable screw 202 carried on outwardly bent portion 197 fromthe triangular plate 197 of the sensing arm 164. Fastened to thetriangular plate 197 on the sensing finger 185 1 is another microswitch203 that has an operating plunger 203' that will be engaged by a headedadjustable screw 204 carried by an inwardly bent portion 194' of thetriangular plate 194 of the finger 163. The microswitch 203 is securedto the triangular plate 197 by fastening screws 206.

A pair of wires 207 extend from the microswitch 199 and a pair of wires208 extend from the microswitch 203. When a notch 183 is discovered inany portion of the bottle thread 28" of the bottle28 the headedoperating screws 202 and 204 will have activated as shown in FIG. 8plungers of the microswitches 199 and 203 and the sensing arms 163 and164 will have pivoted at their head engaging ends toward one another aspermitted by the notch or gap 183 to such an extent that themicroswitches 189 and 203 will have been activated. An electric circuitas to be described will give a signal such as a lamp, buzzer, and effectthe actuation of an ejecting plunger in a manner to be described later.The respective sensor heads 181 and 182 are releasably retained onforwardly-extending horizontal portions of the respective sensingfingers 163 and 164 by respec tive tightening screws 209 and 211.

The microswitches are wired preferably with one switch normally closedand with the other switch normally open. As the fingers are moved apartupon receiving the threaded bottle the normally closed microswitch isopened when it contacts the thread and the normal open switch is closedwhen its finger head is moved apart to the full thread diameter.

When there is a chipped thread and one of the sensing heads 181 and 182enters the notch 183 in the thread 28", the fingers move closer togetherto assume a position shown in FIG. 8 and the normally open switch 203closes to provide a signal of a defective thread to initiate theelectric circuit to effect a rejection of the defective bottle. Thisoperation of the microswitches is made possible by the adjusting of theheaded adjustable operating screws 202 and 204. The adjustment of theheaded screws 202 and 204 for the respective microswitches 199 and 203can be also adjusted to reject a bottle having an oversize thread.

A slip-ring 212 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 supported on supportmembers 213 is supplied with low voltage current 214 extending upwardlythrough one of the slip rings support members 213. This slip-ring is ofcircular shape as best seen in FIG. 1 and comes into use during theinspection cycle in order that the microswitches 199 and 203 can besupplied with current during the inspecting and a bottle rejectingcycle. Traveling with the turret 31 are upwardly extending tubes 216through which three power lines I, II, and III for connection with adistribution block (not shown) having wiring connections according tothe wiring diagrams for connection with the respective microswitchesrelays and contacts. These wires at their lower ends are respectivelyconnected with electric brushes 217, 218 and 219, that engage currentsupply slip-rings as indicated in FIG. 2 respectively at 217, 218, and219'. Distribution is made to the eight different thread inspectiondevices 166.

Low voltage has been supplied as can be seen from FIG. 2 and the wiringdiagrams of FIGS. 9 and 10 to the microswitches 199 and 203 upon thefinger inspection device 166 from slip ring assembly 212.

Adjacent to each bottle-receiving slot 49' of the starwheel 49 theredepends a switch 221, FIG. 2, that is operated by a cam 222 that issupported up from stationary platform 26 to depress its plunger 221' andclose the switch 221 so that power is supplied from low voltage cablesI, II, and III to condition the microswitches 109 and 203 on the fingerinspecting device 166 for use at station 3". This switch 221 is a doublepole switch having arms 221 cand 221b that can be seen in FIG. 10.Cam-operated switch 221 is located at each of the stations as shown inthe diagram of FIG. 9, and to operate the arms 221a'and 22 lb of FIG.10. The adjustment of the headed operating screws 202 and 203 to themicro switches is such thatif the thread 28" is oversized or undersizedthemicroswitch 199 is operated to give a signal. Then, when the bottlehas been rotated to allow the finger point 181! or 182' to enter thenotch 183 as seen in FIG. 8, the microswitch 203 is operated to alsocause a signal. In both instances, a lamp 223 as shown in FIG. 9 andarelay 224 in parallel with the lamp 223 y are energized to effect atstation 5 .a magnetic plunger spring return ejection device 225 pushingoutwardly, the fracture of" an imperfectbottle 28 onto a carry-awayconveyor 226 for removal of the bad bottles I from the inspectionapparatus.

. thereafter it is spring returned to the dotted line position to divertthe good bottles from the apparatus. A time delay is provided in therelay 224 to delay this I ejecting operation until the bottle reachesstation 5.

As seen in FIG. 9, the main source of currentsupply can be 110 voltshaving wires 226' and 227' to supply currentto a primary winding 228 soas to induce low voltage into a low voltage winding 229 that supplieslow voltage current to the three parallel line wires I, and III of theeight sensing head assemblies 166 of FIG. with butone individual circuitbeing shown in FIG. 9 foroperationof microswitches and relays foreffecting the bottle thread inspection cycle. In each of the low voltagecircuitsare two relays CR1 and CRZwhich condition the operation of thelow voltage circuit. Both of: these relays CR1 and CR2 utilize contactsof the high voltage circuit as indicated bythe dot and dash lines inFIG. 9. The relay CR1 is connected tooperate adjustable contact 231 tocontrol timer 223.'The relay CR2 has contacts 232 in the low voltagecircuit with the microswitches 199 and 203. The line I, II, and III arerespectively. connected with the slip-rings 217', 218', and 219' ofFIGSL Z, 9 and 10 by respective brush contacts 217, 218 and219. u t

The high voltage circuit as seen in FIG. 9 has across the lines 226 and227 an adjustable timer relay 233 which has contacts234 operating in thelamp and ejec: tion circuit 223 that is closed at the beginning of thecycle by the cam-operated switch221. The timer is adjustable to thelength of the thread of the bottle and when the rotation of the bottlehas been completed to 7 14], i 7 drive the apparatus, chips derided bymi clamp jaws66 and 67 having internal threads matching with the threadsof the bottle, the bottle taken by the clamp jaws to an inspectingstation wherein examination is made of y the size of the thread andforlany notches or nicks in the.thread,the bottle being lifted andturned for inspection by a central rotatableslide valve member having. Van inflatable rubber bulb which enters the bottle neck 1:: y

and grips the bottle to lift the same, the bottle is turned or rotatedso that the sensing fingers of the sensing device traverse the entirethread of the bottle. Thereafter, the bottle is lowered onto the'base ofthe turret and if d the imperfections such as an oversized thread ornotches or gaps in the thread have been discovered by the sensingdevice, the bottle is ejected from the turret onto a means for takingthe bottle away. The. unrejected bottles will continue with the rotationof the turret and removed by a flip-flop guide fence mechanism. Thebottle is rotated for the initialclamping oper'- ation to orientateitfor proper engagement with the sensing device and removal of brokenpieces or chips.

by the engagement of the side of the bottle with a guide generallycontoured to easily receive the bottle andto cause rotation of thebottleafter the clamp has been closed upon the double threads. Thus, anyloose chips or weakness in the. threads will be predetermined before thebottle reaches the inspection station.

It should be apparent that since eight stations have been shown on theapparatus that any number of such stations may be provided upon thedevice toincrease thecapacity of the apparatus, y

It should also be apparent with large diameter apparatus, the ejectedbottle could be dropped upon the shall be understood that such changesshall be within.

the spirit and scope of the present by the appended claims. l clairn:

invention, as defined 1. Anautomatic bottle thread inspection apparatuscomprising base surface, a bottle receiving turret supported upon thebase surface for rotation through a plurality of stations thereover, abottlefldeliveryconveyor running beside the bottle receiving turrettotransfer bottles thereto, a bottle liftingand rotating as 3 i semblycarried by the turret including means for grasping thebottle and liftingthe same, means for rotating the grasping meansand the bottle whilelifting the same, and sensing means for engaging the threads ofimperfections of the thread and means responsive. to d the sensing meansto eject the imperfectly threaded present all portions of the thread, tothe sensing lingerheads, timer circuit can be opened and time allowedfor the return of the sensingfingers through reversal of the air passingthrough the air motor Mm and ejection of this same conveyor drivingthroughthe bottle serves to the bottle while it is being lifted androtated to sense bottle from the apparatus. 7 p p 2. An automatic bottlethread inspection apparatus as defined in claim 1 and means for-mountingthe bot.-

tle-receiving turret upon the base surface for free rotation, saidturret having star wheel'like openings for gathering the bottles fromthe conveyor, and the arrangement of the bottle conveyor with relationtofree rotation turret being such that the bottle upon the entering anopening of turret and being draggedby the conveyor causes the rotationof the turret throughthe engagement therewith of an by bottlesthemselves.

3. An automatic bottle thread inspecting apparatus as defined in claim 2and said bottle liftingand rotating assembly further serving whileinspecting the bottle threads to transfer the bottle from the conveyorto the base surface as the rotation of the turret continued by asucceeding bottle upon the conveyor engaging succeeding opening in theturret.

4. An automatic bottle thread inspecting apparatus as defined in claimland said turret having a laterally extending two part clamp adapted tograsp the neck of the bottle and center it into position on the conveyorpreparatory to and for vertical alignment with the bott-le graspingmeans.

5. An automatic bottle thread inspecting apparatus as defined in claim 4and the clamp parts having internal threads complementary in pitch andsize to the threads of the bottle, and a stationary vertically extendingfriction driving surface extended over and above the conveyor engagablewith the side of a bottle thereupon to rotate the bottle while on theconveyor as its thread engages with the internal clamping parts, wherebyany ruptured thread will be ridded of chips by the clamp parts prior tothe'sensing of the threads.

6. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus as defined in claim1, said bottle grasping means including a central vertically adjustablevalve-like member, a cooperating air receivable sleeve therefor and aninflatable rubberlike bulb grip member carried on the lower end of thecentral member and adapted to enter readily the bottle neck whendeflated but will grip the bottle upon being inflated and means forautomatically delivering air under pressure to the central and gripmembers to inflate the same and discharge of the air to release thebottle to the base surface.

7. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus as defined in claim 6and said means for rotating the grasping means during lifting andlowering of the bottle grasping means including a reversible air motorcarried upon the turret and having a depending drive shaft, a

worm drive gear fixed to the air motor shaft, an internally threadedsleeve depending from the turret in axial alignment with the air motor,the threads of the worm gearand the sleeve cooperating with one anotherand corresponding in pitch and size to pitch and size of bottle threadsbeing inspected, and said central valve-like member with the inflatablebulb grip member being driven by the worm gear connected to said airmotor drive shaft to be rotated, lowered and raised by the same into andfrom the bottle neck and the bottle thread upon the bottle being liftedand orientated with the sensing means to inspect the bottle thread.

8. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus as defined in claim 1and said bottle thread sensing means including a mounting block carriedupon the turret, opposing bottle thread sensing fingers respectivelypivotally connected to the block, said fingers having bottle threadengaging heads, biasing means extending between the pivotally connectedsensing fingers to normally urge the thread engaging heads toward oneanother and into slidable engagement with the rotating bottle threads tosense the overall thread size and any notches therein, microswitchesrespectively mounted on the respective pivotally connected fingers withrespective operating plungers opposing one another, headed adjustablescrews respectively carried upon the sensing fingers and respectivelyopposingly aligned with the oppositeoperating microswitch plungers tooperate the microswitches in response to engagement of the respectivesensing heads with good or impaired bottle thread under the action ofbiasing means.

9. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus as defined in claim 1and said ejection means being of a guide plate of the flip-flop type andmagneticallyoperated spring return plunger devices operable upon thebottle at a discharge station to guide the bottle and to eject the samefrom the turret in responsive to the actuation of the sensing means andtime relays operable thereby; said flip-flop guide serving in its normalposition to direct the unimpaired bottles from the apparatus turret.

10. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus comprising a base,star wheel-like bottle receiving turret with a series of star openingsextending thereabout, upright post means upon the base means forconnecting the star-wheel-like turret to the upright post for free wheelrotation thereabout, a bottle delivering conveyor disposed adjacent tosaid bottle receiving turret for delivering bottles to the turret staropenings, a series of air-operated bottle neck engaging clamps extendingrespectively laterally over the respective turret star openings tocenter the bottles therewithin while traversing the conveyor, the turretbeing rotated through the bottle engaging the star wheel opening wallsand the clamps while the bottle is being dragged by the conveyor,air-operated reversible motors on said turret overlying respectivelysaid clamps, threaded worm gears and internally threaded sleeve carriedon the turret and depending respectively from the respective air motorsand connected thereto to be operated by the same, central air valveassemblies depending from the air motor worm gear to be lowered by thesame, an air inflatable bulb grip members carried on the air valveassemblies and adapted to enter the bottles when centered by the clampsand upon being inflated to grip the bottle, said air motor when rotatingthe wonn gear in the internally threaded sleeve serving to lower andraise the central member and the bottle, sensing means for engaging thethreads of the bottle while it is being lifted and rotated to senseimperfections of the thread, means responsive to the sensing means toeject the imperfectly threaded bottle, air pressure distributing meanscarried in part by the upright post means and including lower and uppermanifold'parts on the turret-and series of air communicating tubesextending respectively to the air operated clamps, the central valve andsleeve assemblies to inflate the inflatable grip members thereof and thereversible air motors to operate same in sequence in accordance with theadvance of the threaded bottle through the apparatus. 7

* l l i

1. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus comprising basesurface, a bottle receiving turret supported upon the base surface forrotation through a plurality of stations thereover, a bottle deliveryconveyor running beside the bottle receiving turret to transfer bottlesthereto, a bottle lifting and rotating assembly carried by the turretincluding means for grasping the bottle and lifting the same, means forrotating the grasping means and the bottle while lifting the same, andsensing means for engaging the threads of the bottle while it is beinglifted and rotated to sense imperfections of the thread and meansresponsive to the sensing means to eject the imperfectly threaded bottlefrom the apparatus.
 2. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatusas defined in claim 1 and means for mounting the bottle-receiving turretupon the base surface for free rotation, said turret having star wheellike openings for gathering the bottles from the conveyor, and thearrangement of the bottle conveyor with relation to free rotation turretbeing such that the bottle upon the entering an opening of turret andbeing dragged by the conveyor causes the rotation of the turret throughthe engagement therewith of an by bottles themselves.
 3. An automaticbottle thread inspecting apparatus as defined in claim 2 and said bottlelifting and rotating assembly further serving while inspecting thebottle threads to transfer the bottle from the conveyor to the basesurface as the rotation of the turret continued by a succeeding bottleupon the conveyor engaging succeeding opening in the turret.
 4. Anautomatic bottle thread inspecting apparatus as defined in claim 1 andsaid turret having a laterally extending two part clamp adapted to graspthe neck of the bottle and center it into position on the conveyorpreparatory to and for vertical alignment with the bottle graspingmeans.
 5. An automatic bottle thread inspecting apparatus as defined inclaim 4 and the clamp parts having internal threads complementary inpitch and size to the threads of the bottle, and a stationary verticallyextending friction driving surface extended over and above the conveyorengagable with the side of a bottle thereupon to rotate the bottle whileon the conveyor as its thread engages with the internal clamping parts,whereby any ruptured thread will be ridded of chips by the clamp partsprior to the sensing of the threads.
 6. An automatic bottle threadinspection apparatus as defined in claim 1, said bottle grasping meansincluding a central vertically adjustable valve-like member, acooperating air receivable sleeve therefor and an inflatable rubberlikebulb grip member carried on the lower end of the central member andadapted to enter readily the bottle neck when deflated but will grip thebottle upon being inflated and means for automatically delivering airunder pressure to the central and grip members to inflate the same anddischarge of the air to release the bottle to the base surface.
 7. Anautomatic bottle thread inspection apparatus as defined in claim 6 andsaid means for rotating the grasping means during lifting and loweringof the bottle grasping means including a reversible air motor carriedupon the turret and having a depending drive shaft, a worm drive gearfixed to the air motor shaft, an internally threaded sleeve dependingfrom the turret in axial alignment with the air motor, the threads ofthe worm gear and the sleeve cooperating with one another andcorresponding in pitch and size to pitch and size of bottle threadsbeing inspected, and said central valve-like member with the inflatablebulb grip member being driven by the worm gear connected to said airmotor drive shaft to be rotated, lowered and raised by the same into andfrom the bottle neck and the bottle thread upon the bottle being liftedand orientated with the sensing means to inspect the bottle thread. 8.An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus as defined in claim 1and said bottle thread sensing means including a mounting block carriedupon the turret, opposing bottle thread sensing fingers respectivelypivotally connected to the block, said fingers having bottle threadengaging heads, biasing means extending between the pivotally connectedsensing fingers to normally urge the thread engaging heads toward oneanother and into slidable engagement with the rotating bottle threads tosense the overall thread size and any notches therein, microswitchesrespectively mounted on the respective pivotally connected fingers withrespective operating plungers opposing one another, headed adjustablescrews respectively carried upon the sensing fingers and respectivelyopposingly aligned with the opposite operating microswitcH plungers tooperate the microswitches in response to engagement of the respectivesensing heads with good or impaired bottle thread under the action ofbiasing means.
 9. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatus asdefined in claim 1 and said ejection means being of a guide plate of theflip-flop type and magnetically-operated spring return plunger devicesoperable upon the bottle at a discharge station to guide the bottle andto eject the same from the turret in responsive to the actuation of thesensing means and time relays operable thereby; said flip-flop guideserving in its normal position to direct the unimpaired bottles from theapparatus turret.
 10. An automatic bottle thread inspection apparatuscomprising a base, star wheel-like bottle receiving turret with a seriesof star openings extending thereabout, upright post means upon the basemeans for connecting the star-wheel-like turret to the upright post forfree wheel rotation thereabout, a bottle delivering conveyor disposedadjacent to said bottle receiving turret for delivering bottles to theturret star openings, a series of air-operated bottle neck engagingclamps extending respectively laterally over the respective turret staropenings to center the bottles therewithin while traversing theconveyor, the turret being rotated through the bottle engaging the starwheel opening walls and the clamps while the bottle is being dragged bythe conveyor, air-operated reversible motors on said turret overlyingrespectively said clamps, threaded worm gears and internally threadedsleeve carried on the turret and depending respectively from therespective air motors and connected thereto to be operated by the same,central air valve assemblies depending from the air motor worm gear tobe lowered by the same, an air inflatable bulb grip members carried onthe air valve assemblies and adapted to enter the bottles when centeredby the clamps and upon being inflated to grip the bottle, said air motorwhen rotating the worm gear in the internally threaded sleeve serving tolower and raise the central member and the bottle, sensing means forengaging the threads of the bottle while it is being lifted and rotatedto sense imperfections of the thread, means responsive to the sensingmeans to eject the imperfectly threaded bottle, air pressuredistributing means carried in part by the upright post means andincluding lower and upper manifold parts on the turret and series of aircommunicating tubes extending respectively to the air operated clamps,the central valve and sleeve assemblies to inflate the inflatable gripmembers thereof and the reversible air motors to operate same insequence in accordance with the advance of the threaded bottle throughthe apparatus.